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Four men have been issued $1,000 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) after travelling on a superyacht from Sydney to Queensland last week.
The NSW Police Force Marine Area Command commenced an investigation, with assistance from Maritime Safety Queensland.
Police have been told two Victorian men, aged 44 and 58, and two Queensland men, aged 53 and 55, boarded a superyacht vessel and travelled from a yacht club at Pittwater NSW on Monday 5 July, to a marina at the Gold Coast, Queensland, arriving on Wednesday 7 July 2021, in breach of the Public Health Order.
Upon arrival, the men were directed by Queensland Police to be placed in hotel quarantine and were dealt with by Queensland authorities.
Following further inquiries, officers from Marine Area Command issued each of the men with PINs for travel from metropolitan Sydney area to place in NSW outside area – individual.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

The Morrison and Berejiklian Governments continue to work together to support households and businesses in New South Wales during the current COVID-19 lockdown.
Under a new combined support package, the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will be further expanded and increased.  The Commonwealth and NSW will also enter into a new 50/50 cost sharing arrangement for a new business support payment to be implemented and administered by NSW.
From week four of a lockdown because of a Commonwealth Government declared hotspot, the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will increase to $600 if a person has lost 20 or more hours of work a week or $375 if a person has lost between 8 and less than 20 hours of work a week.
The Commonwealth and NSW have also agreed that from 18 July 2021 the COVID-19 Commonwealth Disaster Payment will be available to those outside Commonwealth declared hotspots in NSW that meet the criteria for the payment.
The NSW Government will fund any payments outside a Commonwealth declared hotspot, with the Commonwealth continuing to fund payments to recipients in a Commonwealth declared hotspot.
This support will be offered to any other state or territory that experiences an extended lockdown.
A new business support payment will also be available to entities with an annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million who can demonstrate a 30 per cent decline in turnover.
To receive the payment, eligible entities will be required to maintain their full time, part time and long term casual staffing level as of 13 July 2021.
Eligible entities, which includes not-for-profits, will receive payments of between $1,500 and $10,000 per week based on the level of their payroll
For non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, the payment will be set at $1,000 per week.
The new small business support payment combined with the substantial income support being provided through the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will mean businesses and individuals who have been affected by this extended lockdown will get the support they need to get to the other side.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as the pandemic evolved so did the responses from the Commonwealth and state governments.
“Up until now the Commonwealth has provided the same support to that offered to all other states and territories, consistent with the national approach agreed by National Cabinet last month,” the Prime Minister said.
“As the outbreak has worsened well beyond what we have recently seen in other states and territories, it is in the national interest to enable increased assistance, in partnership with the NSW Government, for workers, business and households, to ensure the lockdown can be maintained to arrest the latest outbreak.
“This new support represents a new national approach and will apply to other states and territories in the event they face similar circumstances.
“We’ve been working closely with the NSW Government to ensure we can deliver targeted and timely support that gets where it needs to be as quickly as possible.
“As lockdowns extend into another week in NSW, households and businesses need this assistance to get them through the lockdown to the other side, ready to reopen.”
The Commonwealth and NSW governments will also deliver a $17.35 million mental health support package for NSW including for services through  Lifeline, headspace and Kid’s Helpline.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the support package would help businesses and families across NSW get through a difficult period.
“Our number one priority remains the health and safety of the people of NSW while also keeping our economy strong as we manage the current COVID-19 challenge,” the NSW Premier said.
“We are pleased to be able to increase our targeted support in conjunction with the Commonwealth and this assistance will ensure we get through the lockdown and come out stronger on the other side.”
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Morrison Government was stepping up to support NSW households and business when they need it most as the state seeks to suppress the delta variant.
“The outbreak in NSW is a timely reminder we are still in the midst of a global pandemic and that there is much work to do to secure our economic recovery,” the Treasurer said.
“The new small business support payment, to be funded on a 50/50 basis with the NSW Government, will support up to an estimated 500,000 entities employing more than 3 million people.”
“Our increased support builds on the $52.4 billion we have already delivered to households and businesses in NSW during the pandemic.”
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the package would help thousands of businesses across the State.
“We have done this before and we can do it again and this targeted support will help those who need it,” the NSW Treasurer said.
“If you’re a worker, a sole trader, a small or medium business or a big employer – we’ve got your back.
“This package will help families and businesses weather the current storm and ensure we can hit the ground running once this current outbreak is under control.”
More information will be available on the Service NSW website later this week.

The Morrison Government is upgrading its national response to COVID-19 outbreaks with increased weekly payments for households, and boosting business cash flow to get them through extended lockdowns.
The new national arrangements have been developed following close cooperation between the Commonwealth and NSW governments to ensure additional support is targeted and rolls out as quickly as possible under a new cost sharing agreement.
The support package will see an increase in the COVID-19 Disaster Payment from week four of a lockdown and a 50/50 cost sharing arrangement between the Commonwealth and the NSW Government for a new and expanded small to medium business support package, implemented and administered by NSW.
This level of support will apply nationally to any state or territory that experiences an extended lockdown beyond week three following the declaration of a Commonwealth hotspot.
COVID-19 Disaster Payment
The Commonwealth will enhance and expand the support available to NSW and other states that experience an extended lockdown.
Specifically, the Commonwealth will:
 

• From week four of a lockdown because of a Commonwealth declared hotspot, the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will increase from $500 to $600 each week if a person has lost 20 hours or more of work a week or $325 to $375 each week if a person has lost between 8 and 20 hours of work.
• Make the COVID-19 Disaster Payment a recurring payment for approved recipients for as long as the Commonwealth declared hotspot and lockdown restrictions remain in place. This will remove the need for recipients to re-claim for each seven day period of a lockdown.
• Amend the COVID-19 Disaster Payment so that a person would be eligible for the payment, including where they are still working, provided they have lost more than 8 hours or a full day of work.

 
From 18 July 2021 the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will be available to those outside Commonwealth declared hotspots in NSW that meet the criteria for the payment.
The NSW Government will fund any payments outside a Commonwealth declared hotspot, with the Commonwealth continuing to fund payments to recipients in a Commonwealth declared hotspot.
This arrangement will be available to other states and territories for future lockdown as a result of a Commonwealth declared hotspot .
Information about how to apply for COVID-19 Disaster Payment can be found on the Services Australia website at www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment
Small and medium business support payments
From week four of the lockdown, the Commonwealth will fund 50 per cent of the cost of a new small and medium business support payment to be implemented and administered by Service NSW.
Eligible entities will receive 40 per cent of their NSW payroll payments, at a minimum of $1500 and a maximum of $10,000 per week.
Entities will be eligible if their turnover is 30 per cent lower than an equivalent two week period in 2019.
The new small to medium business support payment will be available to non-employing and employing entities in NSW, including not for profits, with an annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million.
To receive the payment, entities will be required to maintain their full time, part time and long term casual staffing level as of 13 July 2021.
For non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, the payment will be set at $1,000 per week.
Businesses can register their interest from 14 July 2021 at www.service.nsw.gov.au
The assistance will cease when current lockdown restrictions are eased or when the Commonwealth hotspot declaration is removed.
Commonwealth business tax relief
The Commonwealth will also provide additional support through the tax system, by:

• Making NSW small business grants, including the new small business payments, tax exempt.
• Providing administrative relief to NSW taxpayers facing hardship, including reduced payment plans, no interest charged on late payments and varying instalments on request.

 
Mental health support
The Commonwealth and NSW governments will deliver a $17.35 million mental health support package for NSW including:

• A boost for crisis and mental health services including for Lifeline, free 24 hour support via Sonder and counselling for perinatal depression and anxiety
• Funding for mental health support for vulnerable and culturally and linguistically diverse communities
• Assistance for young people through headspace, Kids Helpline and the Butterfly Foundation

The increase in support for states and territories experiencing extended lockdowns is part of the Government’s plan to secure Australia’s recovery from the COVID-19 recession.
The support comes in addition to existing Commonwealth programs such as HomeBuilder, the expanded instant asset write off, additional support for retaining and training apprentices as well as record support for mental health and women’s safety announced in the Budget.
As the pandemic evolves, so too does the Government’s support for Australians across the country.
 

The NSW Government today announced a comprehensive economic support package worth billions of dollars aimed at helping businesses and people right across the state fight through the current COVID-19 lockdown.
The commitment will now be up to $5.1 billion, including more than $1 billion from the Commonwealth as part of a business and employee support program.
The business grants program announced two weeks ago has been expanded, with grants between $7,500 and $15,000 available to eligible businesses with annual wages up to $10 million. A new grant program has also been introduced for smaller micro businesses with turnover between $30,000 and $75,000.
Thousands of employees will also be protected with NSW committing half of a new $2.1 billion business and employee support program to be delivered together with the Commonwealth.
Businesses will benefit from payroll tax waivers of 25 per cent for businesses with Australian wages of between $1.2 million and $10 million that have experienced a 30 per cent decline in turnover.
The NSW Government will also cover the disaster recovery payments for areas outside the Commonwealth declared hotspot from week four of the NSW lockdown providing valuable support across the state.
Residential tenants will have greater protection with a targeted eviction moratorium.  Residential landlords who decrease rent for impacted tenants can apply for a grant of up to $1,500 or land tax reductions depending on their circumstances.
Commercial and retail landlords will need to attempt mediation before recovering a security bond, or locking out or evicting a tenant impacted by the Public Health Order.
Commercial, retail and residential landlords liable for land tax will be eligible for a land tax concession where they reduce the rent of their tenant.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the comprehensive package had three key aims – protecting business, saving and keeping jobs through the lockdown and ensuring people had support during an uncertain and difficult time.
“We have always said we will do whatever it takes to protect the people of NSW and keep our economy strong, and that is exactly what we are doing,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“While our health and medical staff are fighting COVID-19 on the frontline, this comprehensive support package is aimed at saving jobs and protecting businesses until the lockdown is over.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the Government was offering support in as many areas as possible, with payroll tax cuts for eligible businesses, up to $75 million in support for the performing arts sector and $26 million for the accommodation industry.
“We saw last year during the first lockdown the importance of protecting jobs and ensuring people remained connected with their workplace,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The value of our business grants package is now up to $2.1 billion with a 50 per cent increase, there is also a new grant for those smaller businesses turning over between $30,000 and $75,000, and payroll tax waivers for eligible businesses with a payroll up to $10 million that suffer a 30 per cent reduction in turnover.
“This is a mighty package aimed at ensuring the NSW economy bends in the storm but doesn’t snap. We will come out the other side with a few scrapes but more determined than ever.”
Key components of the 2021 COVID-19 package include:

• An extension to the previously announced business grants program. This means eligible businesses with Australian wages below $10 million can claim grants between $7,500 and $15,000 to cover the first three-weeks of restrictions, and takes the potential size of the program to $2.1 billion;
• Up to $2 billion committed to the scheme to provide cashflow support to businesses to help them retain staff, to be delivered together with the Commonwealth.
• Payroll tax waivers of 25 per cent for businesses with Australian wages of between $1.2 million and $10 million that have experienced a 30 per cent decline in turnover, as well as payroll tax deferrals and interest free repayment plans;
• A new grants program for micro businesses with a turnover of between $30,000 and $75,000 which experience a decline in turnover of 30 per cent. The businesses will be eligible for a $1500 payment per fortnight of restrictions.
• A capped grant of up to $1,500 for residential landlords who are not liable to pay land tax who reduce rent for tenants estimated at $210 million;
• Land tax relief equal to the value of rent reductions provided by commercial, retail and residential landlords to financially distressed tenants, up to 100 per cent of the 2021 land tax year liability;
• Introduction of legislative amendments to ensure a short-term eviction moratorium for rental arrears where a residential tenant suffers loss of income of 25 per cent due to COVID-19 and meets a range of criteria.
• No recovery of security bonds, or lockouts or evictions of impacted retail and commercial tenants prior to mediation;
• Deferral of gaming tax assessments for clubs until 21 December 2021 and hotels until 21 January 2021;
• A $75 million support package for the performing arts sector to be administered by Create NSW;
• A support package for the accommodation sector worth $26 million;
• $12 million in additional funding for temporary accommodation for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness, and
• $5.1 million in NSW funding to support mental health.

People in mandatory isolation will have access to around the clock wellbeing and mental health support and there will be increased access to services for parents, young people and multicultural communities who are struggling during the lockdown.
As part of a joint Commonwealth and NSW Government package worth $17.35 million, NSW will provide $5.1m for a range of mental health services across NSW.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said our top priority is keeping people safe during the pandemic, and not just from the current COVID-19 outbreak.
“We know this will be a very difficult period for many, the additional funding will provide more mental health support particularly for young people and families.”
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the COVID-19 investment will enable providers to immediately increase their support during this period.
“Looking after your mental wellbeing is vital during this time and with thousands of people and families in isolation, access to services 24 hours 7 days a week is hugely important,” Mrs Taylor said
“We know this can be a stressful time for families, parents and children, and these new and existing services available now 24 hours 7 days a week, means there is an avenue for people to reach out for advice or help.”
The joint package includes:

• $7 million for headspace outreach support to parents and young people across greater Sydney – jointly funded by NSW and the Commonwealth Government;
• $3 million for Sonder to provide anyone subject to a mandatory 14-day isolation order with 24/7 health and wellbeing support, with an emphasis on early intervention, for the entire duration of their isolation period – jointly funded by NSW and the Commonwealth Government;
• $3 million to support Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, with a focus on communities in South West and Western Sydney. The funding will go to Beyond Blue and the Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to ensure multicultural communities have access to services and appropriate language translation services;
• $2 million for Primary Health networks across Sydney to increase their mental health services across all areas;
• $1.5 million for Lifeline to boost crisis counselling services;
• $150,000 for Gidget Foundation to provide counselling services for parents suffering from perinatal depression and anxiety.
• Free access for 8,000 new parents to the Tresillian SleepWell baby app, through a funding injection of $100,000.

• Kids Helpline will also be able to extend online wellbeing sessions to secondary schools with a funding boost of $300,000 and the Butterfly Foundation will also receive $300,000 to provide additional support for young people with or at risk of an eating disorder and their carers.
  “In the past year we have seen a rise in self harm, we want to make sure the feeling of isolation doesn’t add to this, so this funding ensures the services can cope with increased demand for mental health support.”